As usual in life, things change. Since the Winter Olympics on NBC is about to be in the books, Jimmy Fallon can come on 11:30pm eastern time and 10:30pm Central. Yes, I know I’m tripping but I’ll say it here: The Tonight Show has been upgraded. And I must say I’m impressed. A little history in which this was the first time in 42 years that the popular late night TV Show was ever filmed and recorded in New York. This is like you been out of the city for a long time, but it’s time to come home to your roots! Ain’t nothing wrong coming home, folks. Plus the studio according to Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams was the original studio that former Tonight Show Host Jack Paar once started. So yes, the Tonight Show has come home! I will say in it’s first week between Will Smith, the FLOTUS, Justin Timberlake, and even U2 performing on top of the rooftops of the GE building, that this new Tonight Show is not playing. I mean in sense they are doing different with the classic show. Now to our older fans and my older readers who loved the Tonight Show for years, I get it. It’s not Johnny Carson, nor Jay Leno, Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and certainly not Conan O’Brien (yeah I said it!) This Tonight Show is like a remix. I was impressed with the openings sequences and music. If you haven’t researched, the scenes were done by of all people, Spike Lee. Yes, the same Spike Lee that had run ins with Tyler Perry and produced Malcolm X made those opening scenes. And as far as the music, love and respect The Roots. They are the first hip hop band EVER to be the official orchestra for the show. Talk about black history month! Learn it new fans. Respect the history and the tradition.

Also: I have to say the video clips of the show have been catching on.

Oh and the one featuring Brian Williams and Lester Holt (can they get a music deal?)

And yes for the smartphone folks, there is a Tonight Show app you can download and take part in.

Arsenio Hall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Plus on the flipside, we know already that Jimmy Fallon is facing the competition, like Dave Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and others. They are next to beat. But I must say that Arsenio should not be forgotten, nor overlooked. I know many have paid attention to the 9 mini screenshot that NBC showed about the competition in which NBC’s own Brian Williams displayed and commented. Plus we know Arsenio’s commentary about not being mentioned in the conversation! Now for those who say that Arsenio was being harsh on Brian Williams because of his ego and “what about me” response? Shush. For some strange reason, I have to agree with Arsenio with this one. No, not because he’s black. If you going to mention with competing for the number 1 spot in late night, you have to know what you’re up against. This includes Arsenio whether those like it or not. Don’t forget, he’s the last guy that survived against the long streaking night life talk of the late Johnny Carson.

Oh, the apology, look for it in the playlist:

The Fans of the Dawg Pound had to flood the NBC Nightly News phones about not including Arsenio! They called and well, it worked. Power to the People. What all this is, it revolves around one word: Fairness. Gotta be fair. Even if it’s your competitive nature.

We are one day removed, and 10 years removed from “the worst smackdown in American History”. We all have those moments and memories of what we were doing when the planes hit the original World Trade Center. Speaking of which, I remember being in the 8th Grade, when I had the opportunity to visit New York and having the chance to visit the World Trade Center as well as the Chrysler/Empire State Buildings. Keep in mind, I was 14 years old and it was in 1991. 20 years ago. But I did had a thought of visiting the NYC again one day and getting a chance to visit the towers as usual. But those terrorist attacks changed everything, but like every American (or should I say determined, hopeful, optimistic American) I will not be like those who refuse to stay home. I will visit the NYC and visit the World Trade, even though it may not be the same towers I viewed in 1991.

Now to change features. I am viewing the online version of Time Magazine, which was titled: “Beyond 9/11”. And I’m looking at the pictures and video clips of those who witnessed and/or survived that tragic Tuesday. But there was one group of folks that weren’t shown: African-Americans. One of my Milwaukee News Columnists, James Causey pointed that out that there weren’t any blacks shown in the magazine! Utter Nonsense! I want to ask, why weren’t there any blacks featured? Really Time Magazine? I mean the Black Race wanted to share some insight of the experiences also. Believe me, I’m going there!

They should have sampled a page out of MSNBC. Brian Williams interviewed a Trinidad born Citizen named Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who later became a U.S Citizen in 1998. She is labeled as the “last survivor of 9/11”. I happened to see that interview online yesterday, and even though that she didn’t felt talking about her story of being trapped in the rubble, but she had a story to tell. I often wondered about other blacks who didn’t have the chance to voice out their stories and lived to tell about it. Yes, 9/11 effected EVERYONE in various ways. There was a Marine who went to Ground Zero. You may have heard of him. Jason Thomas. In his story, Jason tells Ebony Magazine about his experience about putting on his uniform and going to the site and helping those who may have been trapped or assist those in need in the rubble. I dig up the story and I’m like: why didn’t Time Magazine didn’t research him? And for the record, Jason is black, not white as thought in the World Trade Center movie.

See, this is what I’m talking about. I know I may be tripping of not having blacks featured, but I am! James Causey had it right. Where are the blacks? Don’t judge me, Milwaukee! I see you reading this. I’m not calling Time Magazine racist. But I think Time Magazine made a false call of NOT including Americans of color in the article of telling their story in the incident 10 years ago. So as an American of Color as I am: I want to see and HEAR my people talk about their experiences to be recorded. Not just missed off the pages. So despite of the unity of United We Stand, Time Magazine needs to check itself for real and not just missed the boat to get the ball rolling. So yeah, God Bless America.